April 2015 Praise & Prayer Letter

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”  Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.  Do you believe this?” John 11: 21-26

Thank you all for joining us in praise and prayer for God’s leading and working through Chile Mission.  Summarizing March, two additional minor adjustments were submitted toward the final approval of our legal foundation for the children’s residence.  We’ll LOVE to inform you all of that final approval!  We’re still working on drawing in another main person to help get the residence started; our planned trip and meeting in March at the property of the children’s camp/Christian center was postponed to April, due to an incredibly complicated tooth pulling (involving three additional trips to the dentist for cleaning and re-stitching) for Janine; the Christian drug center’s leaders were very receptive to including Christian coaching with participants in the 9-month program as those men prepare to finish and return to their families.  Four leaders will work through part one of the coaching method with Jack and then decide on who else to include as coaches from among those men that have graduated and since lived as testimonies of Jesus’ renewing presence and power.  The coaches’ job is to stay alongside and encourage others as they continue forward, achieving goals that they set for themselves.  Milla is with us for two weeks, as Gilda (her “adopted” mom) needs to be home in northern Chile for this time.  Milla’s doctors are planning her foot surgery for necrosis in April and then will evaluate her condition toward a long-term, milder treatment.  For now they’ve decided to eliminate further heavier chemo treatments, giving her instead a continuing mild dose of chemo pills to take at home.

The victory in Jesus’ imminent death and resurrection is prophesied in his words to Martha in John 11.  Here below are photos of three girls who live and share a severe challenge and yet live within the greatest dynamic of all time…. God’s response to the praises and prayers of his children made possible by Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Milla (whom you already know) has osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and is 14 years old.  Maggie, 4 years old, has neuroblastoma cancer, and Willa, 2 months old, has retinoblastoma (so far only in her right eye, already being removed).  We all know children, youth, and adults in difficult circumstances.  In northern Chile right now there is serious flooding in the 2^nd and 3^rd regions, with loss of life and much destruction.

There is only ONE Reason for the power and victory in Christian praise, prayer, and life:  God’s great love sent his Son Jesus to die and pay the price for our sin in order to reconcile us back into relationship with him so that we can praise, pray, and live.  He accepts us as his children because in Jesus, we are!  We can have full faith that He will listen, guide, and answer as He knows best.  We praise, pray, live, and extend him and his love, because it makes a difference for every Milla, Maggie, & Willa and for so many others.  It’s our real response to the One, True God through our real Lord and Savior.  Keep givng thanks and praying and have a very blessed Good Friday remembrance and Risen Easter Sunday!!

 Praising, praying, and fasting with you in our “Cross and Resurrection JESUS”,

Jack & Janine